"One day last fall, I was sitting there having a 60 Minute and some Brooklyn Brine pickles while reading the newspaper," says Dogfish Head President and Founder Sam Calagione. "When I tried them together, that earthy bitterness that both share was magnified. I thought it was perfect, and within a week, I called Brooklyn Brine."

The pickle maker was in from the get-go, says Shamus Jones, who founded Brooklyn Brine three years ago in borrowed kitchen space. Jones and his small team are craft beer fans, and the companies share the same DNA.

"We're much like Dogfish was 15 years ago," says Shamus. "We're a tiny operation, but we have a clear vision. We make damn fine pickles."

Sam saw the same parallels. "It's about two like-minded, artisanal companies who are passionate about what they're doing and fearless about putting unique ingredients into what they make," he says. "The opportunity to do this together is pretty special."